Above The Cookie topo http://www.stanford.edu/~clint/yos/ab_cook.pdf PDF version Adventures With Linda 5.11b A0 [ReEdit: the A0 was a couple of hangs on the crux pitch to clean moss from footholds] Edge Of Absurdity 5.8, 7 pitches

Note: obviously, retreat would not be easy from Edge Of Absurdity, so it's not for beginning 5.8 leaders.

Thanks for the info! I've always thought more routes would go up in that area. I have my friend, Cindy, visiting from Colorado in May, & some of those may have to get added to my "To Do" list for that trip. Very cool!

P.S. Where is the A0 move on Adventures w/ Linda? I didn't see on the topo any A0 move.

the route coming out of the tunnel drift, named (of course) The Drift 5.8 I would not recommend... notice the word "scary" on the topo posted above....

It goes through a band of decomposed (and decomposing) granite the likes of which I've never encountered in the Valley. How we managed a passage without killing ourselves or anyone down below is still a mystery to me.

This is a route that definitely does not deserve another ascent.... apparently there was a route, or an attempt, as we found an old bolt (now replaced)... seems that route went right, we went left to a prominent corner to a roof (which is the good granite above) and continued left to escape this band.

The fact that that band is the "roof" of the tunnel is not a pleasant thought.

I have NO images of the climb except for the nightmarish memories... I think Eric has some though (and I could dig up some prints to scan later).

"Edge of Absurdity", it's a great route for the grade. Some good exposure. You'll never see anybody else out there. The rap into the tunnel is a great unique descent. "you're limping jon" comes to mind. Able Gable has an eye for them.
Also, I did the first ascent of Slob Knob with the wise and powerful Ken Yager. Another man with a great vision. Go do those routes, they're ripe!

SuperTopo has an obscuristas dream Forum format.. you never have to worry about you obscure classics being splashed across the "front page" for very long. In a day or two, there would be a few people who actually remembered that some route in some lonely corner of one of the world's most popular rock climbing destination was described, given "dick wrenching mega-classic" status, with multi-star quality, topo'd and accurate approach description given, pictures on the route, and testimonials from well known climbers...
...the thread is plunging to the depths of the server cache... perhaps to be revived very infrequently, and probably only by those few who remembered.

I'm planning to make an "online guidebook update" page on my website, with topos for routes not in the current guidebook collected together in one place. Also an updated master route list - like yours, but with the new routes and links to topos, and sortable so people can compare climbs at grades that interest them.

While any route not in the current guidebook can be considered "obscure", this may help the adventurers find new places to explore! Mainly, we are tired of Falcon/Globe Pequot's lameness in not publishing the updated Reid guide, so this is an alternative solution. Supertopo is still great for trip reports and comparing beta, but with a single page for new routes, they won't get lost in the non-climbing chatter (for those who are interested).